Shoe and metatarsal arch support therefor



Aprilzs, 1929. w, M, HURLEY 1,709,852

SHOE AND METATARSAL ARCH SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed May 26, 1927 fvei'roir um KM l i KM Patented pr. 23, 1929i.

'Uitilri Application filed May 26,

This invention relates to boots and shoes having arch supporting devices incorporated therewith7 and has t'or an object the provision of a boot or shoe having a metatarsal arch support disposed between the inner and outer soles of lthe shoe which is characterized by being flexible so that it canbcnd with. the solov and thus does not materially.impair the flexibility of the sole.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a flexible metatarsal arch support, as a new article of manufacture.

A yet further object ot the invention is gen.- erally to improve t-he construction ot boots and shoes and arch supports therefor.

Fig. 1v is a side elevation partly broken away to illustrate the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section along line 2-2 ot Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the metatarsal arch support embodying the invention.

Fig. 4 is a section along line i-t of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view of an inner sole on a last and illustrating the construction of the last for 'forming a recess inthe inner sole in which the arch support of Fig. 8 is received.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bottom of the recessed inner sole.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through a modified construction of the arch support.

The invention is here shown as applied to a welt shoe having the upper l0, inner solo 12 and outer sole lll.' rEhe inner sole is provided with a raised portion 16 which is disposed at the forward end of the shank stiftener 18 and at one side of the ball portion 20 of the sole and in position to be under, and iprovide support for, the metatarsal bones of the toot. The raised portion 16 is of general ellipsoidal form with the major axis extended parallel with the longitudinal axis of the sole. The raised portion is highest in the middle and slopes gradually downward to the edges Where it merges with the general plane of the top of the sole.

The raised portion of the sole is'supported by a metatarsal arch support 22 which is rceeived under the raised portion between the inner and outer soles and over the forward ond of the shank stiffener 18. The arch support, see Figs. 3 and 4i, has generally the shape of the raised portion 16 and is of ellipsoidal form and is highest in the middle and tapers down to a thin edge at the sides. lt is composed ot two pieces 28 and 24, preferably of leather, which are adhesively affixed to a flexible backing sheet 26 of textile fabric, and

SHOE AND METATARSAL ARCH SU'PORT lHlBJEEGR.

les?. semina 194.465.

which have opposed straight edges 28 that are closely spaced apart to provide a gap 30 in the support that permits free independent 'y liexibility of `the sole in any material manner.

The inner sole is provided with a recess for the arch supportand, at the same time7 the raised portion 16, by forcing the tempered material of the inner sole into a suitably formed recess or depression 32 1n the 'last 34.

lin the modification shown inF ig. 7, the' arch support is made of a single .piece of leather 22a shaped as in Fig. 3 and provided I .with a transverse notch 30 in its top facer which extends only part way through the thickness oit the support, thus to provide a thin flexible section 26aL beneath the notch by which t-he front and rear sections of the support are integrally flexibly connected. vThis construction does not necessitate the use of the backing strip 26 of Fig. 4. Ylclaim:` Y

1. A shoe having inner and outer soles and a separate meta-tarsal arch support disposed between the soles and in a recess in t-he lower face of the inner sole, saidsupport being of general ellipsoidal shape with t-he major axis. thereof extended generally parallel with the longitudinal. axis of t-he shoe and being high-- est in the middle and tapered to a thin edge at the sidesj said support being most flexible.

along its transverse axis, which axis is lo cated in the line of fiexure of the soles.

2. A shoe having inner and outer soles and inseparate metatarsal arch support disposed l betwcenvthe soles and in a recess in the lower tace of the upper sole7 said support being oi' general ellipsoidal shape with the major axis thereof extended generallyr parallel with the between the soles and in a recess in the lower f l .si EM the sides, said support having two opposed and spaced sections atlixed to a liexible backing sheet which is adapted to flex at the spece- 1 spaced sections disposed in line along thelon- Vgitudinel ems of the shoe and a tleXible baci*- ing sheet sfllxed to :ind flexibly uniting seid sections and being tree to flex in the line of lexure ot the soles..

A shoe having inner and outer soles and a metatarsel arch support disposed between the soles in a recess in the lower tace of the upper sole underlying the metetsrsal bones ot the loot, saidsupport having two closely spliced sections having straight proximate edgesdisposed transversely o1 the shoe in the line or' ilexure olf the soles thereof, and a flexible backing sheet aflined to end tleizibly connecting said sections.

G. A metntarsal arch support comprisingh an elongated body ot generally ellipsoidel vshape the longer axis o1 which is adapted to lie Vin the length oit the shoe7 said body `being composed ot two opposed sections composed ot leather, and means flexibly connecting them together along the shorter axis et seid body. Y

7. A metatarsal arch support comprising bridging said gap and providing a hinged connection between the sections.

vi). A metfitarsel arch support tor bootsY andr shoes Comprising a body having a general ellipsoiozil shape and adapted to be located in the shoe with its major axis parallel with the longitudinal exis of the shoe, said body being highest at the middle and tapered to a thin edge t the sides and composed of two sections which ere separated by a small gap which lies the minor exis et the body, and a tief sect-i ons and bridgii g seid gap and providing av connection betweenl the sections which is lleXibl-e at the gap.

l0. A metetersel arch support comprising EV ill testimony whereof, l have signed my neme to this speciiicstion.

wirtinM M. `I-IURLEY.

ble backing sheet atixed to bot-h" h permits the flexing et the body thcreet. 

